Golf Ball Retriever

ABSTRACT

A golf ball retriever includes a ring attached to an elongated handle and a net pocket attached to one end of the ring. The net pocket may be made from a flexible mesh net material. The net pocket defines a constricted waist portion to inhibit golf balls captured in the pocket from unexpectedly escaping from the pocket. An inside edge of the ring is chamfered to facilitate capturing golf balls. The handle may, but need not, include a telescoping section. The ring may include LEDs or other lamps to make the ring more visible in murky water or under low ambient light conditions.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to golf equipment and, more particularly,to golf ball retrievers.

BACKGROUND ART

While playing golf, a player is often faced with a need to retrieve agolf ball from a water hazard or other place where the player does notwish to tread or cannot reach. Prior art golf ball retrievers areexemplified by equipment disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,178,844,6,962,536, D457,932, 5,513,884, 5,368,352, 4,509,751 and 3,141,696, aswell as Japanese Pat. No. 2006116263 and PCT Pat. Appl. No.PCT/N097/00098. However, each of these prior-art golf ball retrieverssuffers from drawbacks and deficiencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention provides a golf ball retriever.The golf ball retriever includes an elongated handle and a ring attachedproximate one end of the handle. The ring has a circumference. A netpocket is attached to the ring. The net pocket has an opening and an endopposite the opening. The opening has a circumference. The pocket isattached along the circumference of the pocket opening to thecircumference of the ring. The net pocket defines a constricted waistportion intermediate the pocket opening and the end of the pocketopposite the pocket opening.

The ring has a length and first and second ends. One end of the ring maydefine a chamfer on an inside edge of the ring. Optionally, the otherend of the ring may define a second chamfer on an inside edge of thering.

The ring may be circular in cross section. A diameter of the ring may besubstantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the elongatedhandle. The ring may have an inside diameter of at least about 3.2inches or at least about 3.5 inches or at least twice the diameter of astandard US golf ball. The ring may be made of, or include, a rigidmaterial.

The ring may be fixed to the elongated handle, so the ring does notrotate, with respect to the handle, about the longitudinal axis of thehandle. Optionally or alternatively, the golf ball retriever may includean adjustable member configured, in one mode, to prevent rotation of thering, with respect to the handle, about the longitudinal axis of thehandle. The ring may be attached to the handle such that the axis of thering is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of theelongated handle.

The constricted waist portion of the pocket may include or be defined bya resilient material. The net pocket may include, or be made of, aflexible mesh net.

At least a portion of the ring may be colored a high-visibility color,such as a shade of fluorescent orange, a shade of fluorescent red, ashade of fluorescent yellow, a shade of fluorescent green or white.

Optionally, the ring may include at least one electric lamp and/or thegolf ball retriever may include at least one lamp configured toilluminate the ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more fully understood by referring to thefollowing Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments in conjunctionwith the Drawings, of which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective and side views, respectively, of a golfboll retriever, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along section plane A of a portion ofthe golf ball retriever of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along section plane A of a portion ofthe golf ball retriever of FIGS. 1 and 2, according to an alternativeembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along section line B-B of a portion ofthe golf ball retriever of FIGS. 1 and 2, in a first mode of use;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along section line B-B of the portionof the golf ball retriever of FIGS. 1 and 2, in a second mode of use;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along section place A of a portion ofthe golf ball retriever of FIGS. 1 and 2, according to an alternativeembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along section place A of a portion ofthe golf ball retriever of FIGS. 1 and 2, according to anotheralternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view along section place A of a portion ofthe golf ball retriever of FIGS. 1 and 2, according to yet anotheralternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a golf boll retriever, according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, apparatus aredisclosed for retrieving golf balls, such as from water hazards or otherinaccessible or difficult to access locations. FIGS. 1 and 2 areperspective and side views, respectively, of an embodiment of a golfball retriever. The golf ball retriever includes a ring 100 attached toan elongated handle 102 and a net pocket 104 attached to one end 106 ofthe ring 100. The handle 102 may, but need not, include a telescopingsection (not shown). The net pocket 104 may be made from a flexible meshnet material.

In some embodiments, the ring 100 resembles a short length of tubehaving two ends 105 and 107. Each end 105 or 107 is referred to hereinas an end or a face. In one embodiment, an inside edge 108 of one end105 of the ring 100 is chamfered, as best seen in the cross-sectionalview Section A of FIG. 3 or Alternative Section A of FIG. 4. The lengthof the ring 100 is indicated at 111 in FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in FIG.3, the chamfer on the inside edge 108 may create a sharp edge 109 aaround the circumference of the ring 100. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 4, the chamfer may create a small step 109 b before the beveledportion of the edge 108. The pocket 104 is attached to the ring, such asto the end of the ring 100 opposite the chamfered end.

Returning to FIG. 1, the inside diameter 110 of the ring 100 is largerthan the diameter of a golf ball. In some embodiments, the insidediameter 110 of the ring 100 is at least about twice the diameter of agolf ball. In one embodiment, the inside diameter 110 of the ring 100 isat least about 3.2 inches. In another embodiment, the inside diameter110 of the ring 100 is at least about 3.5 inches.

The ring 100 may be made of a suitable rigid material, such as plasticor metal. The ring 100 may be coated (such as by painting, plating oranodizing) with, or made of, a bright high-visibility colored materialto enhance visibility of the ring 100, such as when the ring 100 issubmerged in water. Exemplary colors include shades of: fluorescent red,fluorescent orange, fluorescent yellow, fluorescent green and white.

Optionally or alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, the ring 100 mayinclude a plurality of lamps 500, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs),connected by a cable 504 and a switch 508 to a battery, generator orother suitable source of electrical power (not visible) in the handle102. For example, a threaded or other type of removable cap 510 mayprovide access to a battery compartment in the handle 102. These lamps500 may be activated by a user to increase visibility of the ring 100 inmurky water or at night and/or to illuminate a region proximate the ring100 to facilitate locating a golf ball in murky water. In anotherembodiment (not shown), the ring 100 may be made partially or completelyof a transparent or translucent material, and one or more lamps in thering 100 or in the handle 102 may introduce light into the transparentor translucent material to make the material radiate visible light,thereby increasing visibility of the ring 100 and/or illuminating aregion proximate the ring 100. In either case, the lamps 500 may produceany suitable color or combination of colors of light, such as red,yellow, green and/or white.

Returning again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pocket 104 may be made offilamentous or other material having net-like mesh or generally openconstruction. The pocket 104 may be made of nylon, another light-weightfast-drying material or any other suitable material.

The pocket 104 defines an opening 114. The pocket 104 may be attached tothe end 106 of the ring 100 opposite the chamfered 108 end of the ring100. The pocket 104 may be suitably attached along the circumference ofthe opening 114 of the pocket 104 to the circumference of the end 106 ofthe ring 100. In one embodiment, the end 106 of the ring defines agroove 116 (best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4), and a portion of the edge ofthe pocket 104 is tucked into the groove 116 to form a U-shaped channel.A rigid or resilient member 118, such as a rubber O-ring, may bepress-fitted into the channel to create a friction fit between thechannel formed by the pocket 104 and the sides of the groove 116. Otherattachment mechanisms and methods include: ultrasonic, radio-frequencyor chemical welding of the pocket 104 to the ring 100; adhesives,rivets, screws and the like.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, the pocket 104 may define a constricted“waist” portion 120, between the ring 100 and the bottom 121 of thepocket 104. The waist portion 120 inhibits a ball (shown in phantom at122) inside the pocket 104 from unexpectedly falling out of the pocket104. The pocket 104 may be large enough to simultaneously hold more thanone golf ball, and the waist 120 may be configured such that the waist120 inhibits all the golf balls from unexpectedly falling out of thepocket 104. The filaments of the pocket 104 may be woven so as to formthe narrow waist portion 120. Optionally or alternatively, the pocket104 may include resilient (such as elastic) material to define the shapeand/or size of the waist portion 120.

The ring 100 may be attached to the handle 102 such that a diameter(such as the diameter indicated at 110) of the ring 100 is substantiallyin line with the longitudinal axis 124 of the handle 102 and/or the axis126 of the ring 100 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis 124 of the handle 102. The ring 100 may be attached to the handle102 such that the ring 100 does not pivot, with respect to the handle102, about the longitudinal axis 124.

Optionally or alternatively, the handle 102 or the ring 100 may includean adjustable member configured to selectively prevent or allow rotationof the ring 100, with respect to the handle, about the longitudinal axis124 of the handle 102. In one embodiment, the handle includes atelescopic section, a compression nut and an optional ferrule (notshown). In one mode, ex., when the compression nut is loose, thetelescopic handle 102 may be extended or collapsed, and telescopicsections of the handle 102 may be rotated, with respect to each other,about the longitudinal axis 124. The ring 100, being fixedly attached toone of the telescopic sections, may be rotated about the longitudinalaxis 124. In another mode, ex., when the compression nut is tight, thetelescopic sections are prevented from rotating with respect to eachother, and the ring 100 is prevented from rotating about thelongitudinal axis 124. Optionally, the telescopic sections of the handle102 may include a key and guide configured to prevent the telescopicsections from rotating, relative to each other, even while thecompression nut is loose.

The handle 102 may be equipped with a comfortable grip 128, such as aresilient grip. In use, the handle 102 is manipulated so the pocket 104trails the ring 100, and the ring 100 and pocket 104 scoop up one ormore golf balls. The chamfered edge 108 facilitates working the loweredge of the ring 100 under a golf ball.

As described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the golf ball retrievermay be used to scoop a golf ball by moving the handle 102 so as to makethe ring 100 pass around the golf ball and catch the golf ball in thepocket 104. In this mode of operation, illustrated by cross-sectionalview B-B in FIG. 6, the ring 100 is moved in a direction indicated by anarrow 600, and the pocket 104 is typically attached to the trailing side106 of the ring 100. However, in another mode of operation, illustratedin FIG. 7, the pocket 104 may pass through the ring 100 and trail behindthe ring 100. This mode of operation may be used if, for example, a usermisses capturing a golf ball on a first attempt and tries again tocapture the golf ball by moving the ring in the opposite direction. Tofacilitate the second mode of operation, both sides of the ring 100 maybe chamfered, as shown in FIG. 8 That is, the side 800 of the ring 100to which the pocket 104 is attached may be chamfered, and the side 108opposite where the pocket 104 is attached may also be chamfered.

Optionally or alternatively, the pocket 104 may be attached to the ring100 at a location other than one side 800 or the other side 108 of thering. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the pocket 104 is attachedalong an inside diameter of the ring 100 at a position intermediate thetwo sides 108 and 800 of the ring 100. Alternatively (not shown), thepocket 104 may be attached along an outside diameter of the ring 100.

Although embodiments of the ring 100 described thus far haveapproximately rectangular cross-sectional shapes (preferably with one ortwo chamfers), as seen in FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 9, rings with othercross-sectional shapes may be used. In one embodiment, illustrated inFIG. 10, the ring 100 has a circular cross-sectional shape. The ring 100may be solid, as shown in FIG. 10. Alternatively, the ring 100 may behollow, such as a ring fabricated from a tube (not shown).

The one or two chamfers 108 and 800 (FIGS. 8 and 9) described aboveincrease the ease with which a golf ball may be scooped by a golf ballretriever, such as by the above-described embodiments. However, somering 100 embodiments may omit one or both chamfers 108 and 800. Absenceof a chamfer (such as on some embodiments with circular cross-sectionalrings 100, as in FIG. 10) may reduce the ease with which a golf ball maybe scooped. The waisted (120) pocket 104 decreases the likelihood that acaptured golf ball unexpectedly falls out of the pocket 104 after thegolf ball is scooped by the retriever. A golf ball retriever with apocket 104 that is large enough to simultaneously hold several golfballs provides advantages over a golf ball retriever that is capable ofholding at most one ball. For example, each time a golf ball retrieveris inserted into or withdrawn from a water hazard, the retriever islikely to stir up sediment and, thus, increase the cloudiness of thewater. Thus, with a large enough pocket 104, several golf balls may beretrieved from a water hazard, without withdrawing the golf ballretriever from the water between retrieving each golf ball. These andother features may be used in any combination, according to the presentdisclosure.

In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a golf ball retriever isprovided. While specific values chosen for these embodiments arerecited, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the invention,the values of all parameters may vary over wide ranges to suit differentapplications. While exemplary embodiments are described, it will beunderstood by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications to,and variations of, the illustrated embodiments may be made withoutdeparting from the inventive concepts disclosed herein. Furthermore,disclosed aspects, or portions of these aspects, may be combined in waysnot listed above. Accordingly, the invention should not be viewed asbeing limited to the disclosed embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf ball retriever, comprising: an elongatedhandle; a ring attached proximate one end of the handle, the ring havinga circumference; and a net pocket having an opening and an end oppositethe opening, the opening having a circumference, the net pocket alsodefining a constricted waist portion intermediate the pocket opening andthe end of the pocket opposite the pocket opening, the pocket beingattached along the circumference of the pocket opening to thecircumference of the ring.
 2. A golf ball retriever according to claim1, wherein the ring has a length and first and second ends, and the ringdefines a chamfer on an inside edge of one of the ends thereof.
 3. Agolf ball retriever according to claim 2, wherein the ring defines asecond chamfer on an inside edge of the other one of the ends thereof.4. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein the ring iscircular in cross section.
 5. A golf ball retriever according to claim1, wherein a diameter of the ring is substantially in line with thelongitudinal axis of the elongated handle.
 6. A golf ball retrieveraccording to claim 1, wherein the ring has an inside diameter of atleast about twice the diameter of a US standard golf ball.
 7. A golfball retriever according to claim 1, wherein the ring has an insidediameter of at least about 3.2 inches.
 8. A golf ball retrieveraccording to claim 1, wherein the ring has an inside diameter of atleast about 3.5 inches.
 9. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1,wherein the ring is fixed to the elongated handle, such that the ringcan not rotate, with respect to the handle, about the longitudinal axisof the handle.
 10. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, furthercomprising an adjustable member configured, in one mode, to preventrotation of the ring, with respect to the handle, about the longitudinalaxis of the handle, and in another mode to allow such rotation.
 11. Agolf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein the constricted waistportion of the pocket is defined by a resilient material.
 12. A golfball retriever according to claim 1, wherein the net pocket comprises aflexible mesh net.
 13. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1,wherein at least a portion of the ring is colored a high-visibilitycolor.
 14. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein at leasta portion of the ring is colored a shade of: fluorescent orange,fluorescent red, fluorescent yellow, fluorescent green or white.
 15. Agolf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein the ring comprises atleast one electric lamp.
 16. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1,further comprising at least one electric lamp configured to illuminatethe ring.
 17. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein thering is attached to the handle such that the axis of the ring issubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongatedhandle.